Gotlandring in Sweden, the world’s first sustainable race track, celebrated its 20th anniversary on September 2-3, 2023. This landmark event brought together celebrities, exclusive cars, the TOP GEAR team, Formula E, and the world’s fastest electric go-kart. Among the many highlights of this celebration was the establishment of a world record for commercially available electric racing karts, a testament to the electrifying future of sustainable racing.
The record-setting electric kart achieved a top speed of 163 km/h (101.3 mph), solidifying its position as the fastest commercially available electric racing kart in the world. Impressively, this record-setting run required minimal modifications to the kart, the idea behind this record was to show performance that you can get from an “off the shelf” product.
Driver: Swedish go-kart driver, Leo Obrant.
Track: Gotlandring’s southern loop straight, covering a distance of 590 meters.
Chassis: Birel Art CRY32-S14 (Homologation N° 007/CH/12)
Powertrain: BSR 2.2 25kW+ version
Battery: BSR B5500 (Capacity: 56Ah / 5,376 Wh)
Gear Ratio: 14/21
Tires: Vega XM3-CIK PRIME
The Gotlandring track provided the ideal setting with its southern loop straight—a 590-meter straight with zero elevation. To extend it a bit more, we started from the corner, resulting in a 615-meter straight with a braking zone. Ideal weather conditions included sunny skies and a gentle wind of 1-2 m/s.
”This was my first experience with electric karts. I have raced internal combustion engine karts, but the top speed in races for those is about 130-140 km/h. I have never driven a go-kart this fast
Leo ObrantWorld record driver
Gotlandring is built for race cars, but options to vary layouts allow for go-kart racing as well. Gotlandring sets a new standard for sustainability, boasting an advanced charging infrastructure with chargers for electric vehicles, including fast chargers designed for electric race cars. Additionally, the track’s electricity is sourced from on-site wind generators, aligning perfectly with the ethos of eco-friendly racing.
The celebration featured appearances by Formula E teams, esteemed TOP GEAR journalists, and a stunning display of exclusive cars and motorcycles. It truly represented an extraordinary amalgamation of speed, innovation, and environmental responsibility.
”This is a pure racing experience, the closest thing to F1 and Formula E racing. I'm telling everybody to come and try. This is amazing!
Alec Arho-Havrénfounder, circuit designer, and chief instructor of Gotlandring.